HumanBirdWings Guy Survives First Test Flight

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We first reported on Jarnos Smeets when his HumanBirdWings project was still a baby. He had successfully paired the accelerometers of a WiiMote and an HTC Wildfire S to control the outrunners on his wings, but hadn’t yet taken to the air.

Today, that all changes.

Jarnos and his DIY wings have, in fact, taken flight (albeit a very short one). You’ll see when you check out the video that “flight” looks a lot more like two or three extended hops, but it’s progress nonetheless and that’s exactly what we want to see.

It seems that what Jarnos needs now, to really take off, is a bit more speed during departure.

Update: It turns out that both Jarno Smeets and his “human birdwings” were a fabrication of Dutch filmmaker Floris Kaayk. A big ole avian hoax. Our apologies for giving this guy airtime. More here.